University Staff Senate 

February 17, 2026 | 3:30pm-5:00pm | RSC Room 142

Senators in Attendance – In Person

Krissy Archambeau, Monica Bergkamp, Angela Blackerby,  Anne Marie Brown, , Aaron Coffey,  Kevin Duffy, Gabriel Fonseca, John Keckeisen, Christopher Leonard, Angie Linder, Daniel Ludlow,   Jacob Mendez, Kendra Nguyen, Chukwunenye Nweke, Jessica Pierpoint, Lyndsay Pletcher, Corby Redington, Margaret Rees, Sadi Roberts, Kennedy Rogers, Stacy Salters, Kelley Smeta

Senators in Attendance – Virtual

Susan McCoy, Trang Bui, Zachary Brown, Courtney Henry, Sara Mata, Sarah Mathews, Nathan Johnson

Senators Not In Attendance

Kimberly Gutierrez, Whitney Crager, Preston Schroeder

Guests

Kathrine Johns, Brandee Palmer, Nancy Deyoe, Lizzie Butler, Zach Gearhart, Angela Herbert, Francine Angell, Shaira Dunn, Mackenzie Baxter, Lee Ann Birdwell, Abigail Burgess, Christina Covey, Andrea Gartman, Aaron Hamilton, Tiffanie Henderson, Olivia Kerschen, Naquela Pack, Roberta Swanson 

  1. Call to Order
    1. Approval of Minutes – Electronic
      1. Motion to approve – Chukwunenye Nweke, Seconded by Jessica Pierpoint. Motion passed.
    2. Announcements

      1. Engineering 5K on February 28th

      2. WSU SPARK Society – Bingo tomorrow at noon, raise money for anyone on campus

  2. New Business
    1. Legislative Update with Zach Gearhart
      1. Joining in from Topeka, currently about halfway through legislative session. This is “turnaround week” – on the floor all day, must complete bills by the end of this week
      2. Good news is that they are further along than usual so we have more information about where things are at currently.
      3. State Budget Update
        1. We get around $80M for operations from the state.
        2. House Appropriations Committee – currently done, expect Senate to be done this week.
          1. Research universities looking at about 2.5% cut
          2. $2.3M cut to the entire system for need based need aid – unusual cut, when questioned, no answers were provided. Hopeful to push to get that back.
          3. Freeze on tuition
        3. Provisos added
          1. No increase for FY27 in tuition. Nothing stated in fees.
          2. Faculty – if you are on a 2 year PIP, will not be eligible for an additional review.
          3. For 2027 legislative session, each university will bring a plan to cut 10% administrative support – reasoning that they want to find efficiencies and not cut from programs/lean in on tuition. Very early on in discussion
          4. DEI - $2M will be held from each university to a council, and would be released if each university is able to certify that they are not mandating any DEI specific provisions that are required to graduate. (DEI/Cricital Race Theory)
        4. Research Update – few research lines deemed to be sunsetted, legislature did extend.
        5. Senate didn’t go into session feeling like they need to make any major cuts – most have taken the prospective of getting through session quickly.
          1. So far, Senate has not made any cuts to higher education
        6. Campus restoration act – no indication of putting a pause on that. These funds help with deferred maintenance, this state money helps alleviate pressure on university budget.
        7. Employee pay – no update at this time.
        8. Policy Bills
          1. HB2746 – Tenure is not a property right bill
            1. This bill does the same thing as a previous bill, it would significantly water down tenure rights in Kansas.
          2. SB254 – undocumented persons, no public aid
            1. Originally this included in-state tuition would not go to undocumented students. Unclear whether that bill will move or not.
          3. SB244 – Bathroom Bill – no multipurpose/general neutral bathrooms should be available
            1. Study shows that shouldn’t affect WSU
          4. HB2428 – DEI Bill, focus on academic component
            1. Says we must teach as a requirement to graduate a course on constitutional republic, unlikely to work in on this session.
        9. Questions
          1. Clarification on administrative cuts – what does that mean?
            1. Proviso is generic to administrative, non-instruction. If that was to go through, all universities would have to meet and agree on the interpretation of the wording.
          2. Was the 2.5% what we were all anticipating?
            1. We have been anticipating between 3-5% percent, Question of whether there is a cap in tuition.
          3. Bathroom Bill – are they relying on individuals to report? How are they going to “police” that?
            1. Everyone has acknowledge that this would be an enforcement nightmare, the unfortunate thing may be an abuse of reporting/over
          4. Article that came out in the Sunflower that there was a 10% cut in position, is the Sunflower wrong?
            1. Moreso that it is more ambiguous and that universities need to come with a plan
          5. Any additional questions, we’ll send them your way
    2. Moving March meeting to March 24 – nothing available in RSC
      1. Looking at moving the March meeting back a week due to Spring Break. The only issue is there is no space in the RSC. Jacob will look into a new location for the meeting.
      2. Jacob will sending an updated calendar invitation
    3. Open / As Arises

 

  1. Old Business
    1. Listening Session Overview
      1. Dates that are on schedule for the listening session:
        1. Feb. 24 | 10–11 AM | RSC 301 (Gridley)
        2. March 12 | 2–3 PM | RSC 203 (Lancelot) – HR will be present at this meeting.
        3. March 23 | 11:30 AM–1 PM | RSC 301 (Gridley)
        4. April 15 | 11 AM–12 PM | RSC 262 (Herrman)
      2. A sign up sheet will be going around for senators to sign up for, hope to have at least 3 senators each session.
      3. Resources will be available for senators who will be at these sessions.
      4. Staff Wide Email and WSU Today’s coming out soon
    2. Love on the Locker Update (cans being counted on Wednesday at 1:30pm) if anyone is available, please let me know!
      1. Thanks to University Police Department for helping pick up cans at each location.
      2. Raised $342.00 in cash and items are being counted this week and should have number to announce in the upcoming few days.
      3. We partnered with WSU PD for a food drive they were working on and they assisted in picking up all the items and being a huge support of the senates and supporting students.
      4. Question – since Campus PD also did a drive, can we combine and partner going forward
    3. Open/As Arises
  1. Senate Committee Updates
    1. Awards and Recognition

      1. Committee received a total of 64 (26 more than last year!) nominations! Committee members are hard at work at reading them all and have started to score nominations to select our winners.

      2. Will be sending out the nomination letters out to all the nominees so that they are aware of those and sending out the invite to them to attend the STRIVE Conference and to be present for the awards ceremony at the STRIVE Conference

    2. Communications and Website

      1. Staff Senate website has been updated a lot recently

        1. Goals & Priorities have been added to the website

        2. Admins Coming Together page has also been updated.

      2. We’ve received 12 surveys back from senators for Senator Spotlights, please be sure to complete those so we can spotlight you

    3. Elections 
      1. We are updating the system ready for election.
    4. Policy Review 
      1. Reveiwed a few policies, nothing substantial that would need to go to full senate. 
    5. Professional Development and Service 

      1. Working on session for STRIVE conference on how staff can advocate for themselves

      2. Planning on a garden walk in April, possibly look at connecting with First Gentleman Rick Case as part of the garden walk/tour

    6. STRIVE Conference 

      1. Finalizing some titles on the schedule, ready to go. Will work on sending out the survey and registration information.

      2. Question? Has there been discussion with presenters on providing opportunities for attendees to ask questions

    7. Scholarships

      1. The Staff Senate Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce the recipients of the Fall 2026 Staff Senate Dependent Scholarships. This year, we received six applications, all from dependents of dedicated WSU staff members. Thank you to every Staff Senator for helping share this opportunity—our applicant pool continues to grow each year because of your efforts! Congratulations to the following awardees:

        1. Lylah Covey

        2. Ismail Saeed

        3. Brynn Potter

        4. Samuel Hamilton

      2. The students will be notified this week of the award.  After that time feel free to congratulate these outstanding students.  Their stories reflect the excellence, commitment, and community spirit we value at Wichita State.

      3. As part of our continued commitment to sustain and grow the scholarship fund, we are maintaining a $2,000 balance and awarding $1,000 total in scholarships for Fall 2026. As this fund grows we hope to offer larger awards!  Four recipients have each been selected to receive a $250 award.Notifications will go out this week

    8. Chair Policy and Procedures Ad Hoc Committee 
      1. Met last week to iron out how we can become part of the electorate. Plan on bringing up at next meeting a recommendation for each college to elect a representative for the electorate.
  2. Campus/University Business Updates & Discussions
    1. Advisory Budget Committee 

      1. Tentative 2.5% SGF cut (budgeted 3% in the model)

      2. NISS - not included at this point but possible language update for FY26’s allocation

      3. Legislative Compensation support - not included at this point but will come later, if at all.

      4. Campus Renewal Act funding has not been lapsed this session.

      5. No increase in tuition for this coming FY but does not block us from raising fees.

      6. During the 2027 Session - need to bring a 10% to cut non-instructional/administrative, still developing in this area. Will be working with KBOR to get interpretation and using the same approach.

      7. 2 million being held by each university until we certify we are not doing DEI/Critical Race Theory. 

    2. Human Resources (Joint with Faculty Senate)

      1.  Linkedin Learning expires in June and working on a plan to mitigate the impact within classrooms, no firm details yet but am aware of the extent of the concern.

      2. “Level-Up” your leadership program being launched at STRIVE for a second phase of the leader training hosted by HR

      3. H1B

        1. Met with Marcee Holsteen and Diana Austin

          1. Any specific questions direct them to Diana Austin or Marcee Holsteen

          2. Working on website with FAQs and talking points for H1B

          3. “Paused” language being reviewed when really is a case by case approval process for staff members

          4. They are going to share more details with senate once they finalize there talking points and plan.

          5. Approx total staff numbers at WSU/IDP

            1. 70 total 

              1.    21 faculty 

              2.    15 WSU Staff Members 

              3.    49 Industry and Defense Staff Members

    3. Legislative Update + KBOR Briefing 
      1. See above for notes from Zach Gearhart – Guest Speaker
    4. Parking Appeals + Traffic Appeals 

      1. New software is up and working with appeals going out

      2. Working through the backlog and fines are going out 

    5. President’s Meetings

      1. Main talking points were H1B to make President aware that staff members are concerned.

      2. President recommended Kevin Saal to attend meeting to discuss budget situation in Athletics. He is on the schedule to April.

    6. RSC Board of Directors 
      1. No updates.
    7. Admins Coming Together 

      1. March is Angie Linder’s last meeting. Congratulations to Angie for 25 years at WSU!

      2. Admins Coming Together luncheon went well, reviewed the onboarding checklist

      3. Anne Marie will be taking over the Admins Coming Together group to continue

    8. UPS/USS Presidents Council (KBOR)
      1. No updates
  3. Announcements
    1. Kendra shared that she has been working in collaboration with PPMC on the creation of a Young Professionals in Public Service Group called ICTNext. This organization hopes to provide a unique space for young professionals that work in public service to connect and grow personally and professionally. The group doesn’t currently have a website (currently in progress) but has a Facebook, Instagram & Linkedin page for updates. To join the mailing list, click here. Questions? Contact Kendra Nguyen any time.
  4. Adjourn/Upcoming Meetings and Events/Shoutouts
    1. May Senate Meeting: Tuesday, March 24, 2026 | 3:30pm-5:00pm | Room TBD
    2. Check the Events Calendar for upcoming events on campus